February 23, 2021: SOAP #4100:  Numbers 12-13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on….
verse 10b He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

OBSERVATION: There was no internet; no television; no radios; and no phones!   Yet the word spread that Jesus had come home to Capernaum.  They had been hearing about Him; now was their opportunity to see Him!  KJV says it: “…it was noised that he was in the house.”  The news of Jesus’ presence has spread from one person to their neighbors and to their families, and to their friends. 

APPLICATION:  My goal is to be so full of Jesus that everybody knows that Jesus is in my life.  It should be no secret that Jesus is living in me.  The ones who know me best are my family.  If anyone knows that Jesus is in me, they should know.  They know how I used to be.  They should be able to see the changes God has made in me.  They should be able to see that God is working in my life. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, This Christian life is a visual thing!  It is to be see-able.  Direct my life so that Jesus can be seen in all I say and do.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 22, 2021: SOAP #4099:  Numbers 10-11; Psalm 27; Mark 1

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

OBSERVATION:  Who is it that God keep safe in time of trouble?  Who is it that God shelters?  And who is it to whom the remining verses in this Psalm apply?  It is the one who has one over-riding heart desire to continually stay in an awareness of God’s presence, to see God’s beauty that surrounds us, and to spend time with Him. 

APPLICATION:   If I want God to continually shelter me, it would be good for me to set myself to become the person that God enjoys having around.  If I want to be a man after God’s heart, then I must be after God’s heart.  If God can see what He likes in me, it is because I have found what I like in Him!  The more I find what I like in God, the more God finds what He likes in me.  God is my “One Thing.”  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I want to know you.  I want to know your heart.  I want to see things as you see them.  I want to understand why something would please you or would not please you. I want my life to be a comfortable dwelling place for you. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 21, 2021: SOAP #4098:  Numbers 8-9; Acts 28

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 28:30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION: Paul was called of God.  That took precedence over any hindrances man could place on him.  His circumstances did not stop his ministry. 

The limitations Paul experienced provided their own unique opportunities for ministry.  Being limited as a prisoner, Paul ministered to his guards.  Being limited from visiting the churches, he wrote letters.  Being limited on a ship, he ministered to the crew.  Being limited to a rented house, he ministered to those who visited him.

APPLICATION: Every limitation opens another door of opportunity for me.  I may not have enough money to do one thing, but I have more time to do something else.  I may not be able to go to one destination, but I can minister where I am or nearby.  I may not have the needed supplies for what I would like to do, but I have the Holy Spirit anointing to do what the Spirit leads. 

When I was quarantined due to COVID (3 months ago), I considered everyone who came into my hospital room as being sent to me by God.  God provided my laptop computer to enable me to continue send out the daily SOAPs.  My wife brought my ukulele to the hospital so I could minister to the Lord and those who came into my room. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, keep me clearly focused on you.  Show me the opportunity that every hindrance provides.  Keep my eyes focused on the opportunities and not on the hindrances. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

Note:  Some of today’s SOAP is taken from #3981.  It clearly applied to me during my recent time in the hospital.  It still applies to me.  It also applies to those who have been asking me for money so they can do their ministry.  We need to start where we are with what we have.  We must learn how to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

February 20, 2021: SOAP #4097:  Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 27:21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

OBSERVATION:  The crew and the passengers were on a ship that was headed for disaster.  Their salvation did not lay in the skill of the captain.  Their salvation was not in the abilities of the crew.  Their salvation did not lay in the design of the ship.  Their salvation lay in one passenger, and he a prisoner being taken to Rome! 

APPLICATION:  One ship I am traveling on is my family.  Another is my workplace.  And another is my neighborhood.  They are all in the middle of a stormy sea.  So, are the other passengers blest to have me onboard with them?  Does my presence make a difference? 

PRAYER:  Lord, I know it is not my presence that makes a difference, but your presence in me.  May I fade into the background as you become more and more visible.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 19, 2021: SOAP #4096:  Numbers 5-6; Psalm 22; Acts 26

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn—for he has done it.

OBSERVATION:  This Psalm, written by King David about 1,000 years before Christ, contains many references to the suffering of Jesus on the cross.  This psalm was telling a future generation what would happen. 

God’s plan was not just for David’s generation; it was for Jesus’ generation.  God’s plan was not just for The New Testament generation; it is for today’s generation!  God’s plan is not just for today’s generation; it is for future generations!  They also will be told about the Lord.  We must tell them. And the generation that we tell, will pass it on to generations that have not yet been born!  

APPLICATION:  The plan of God is a plan for the ages!  It started before creation and will continue through all eternity!   It will outlast this world.  And just as the faith and actions of earlier generation were recorded, so our faith and actions are being recorded. 

Let us resolve to leave a good trail.  Let us make the path easy to follow.  In letters and books, let us leave a paper trail.  In repeating testimonies over and over, let us leave a good memory trail.  In our actions, let us leave an unforgettable trail.  And in sharing the life of Jesus with others, let us leave a heritage that brings glory to the One who started it all!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, use me to leave a good trail for others.  Help me leave clear markings along my path, markings that are easy to identify.  As I had good people to follow, may I be a good Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 18, 2021: SOAP #4095:  Numbers 3-4; Acts 25

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 25:25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor, I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

OBSERVATION: Festus had granted Paul’s request to have his trial take place before Caesar.  But this gave Festus a big puzzle.  Surely if a prisoner was sent to a hearing before Caesar, there must be a logical and well-reasoned case to be presented with the prisoner.  Festus knew that Paul had done nothing deserving death.  Paul’s presence before Caesar would make Festus look like he could not handle his responsibilities.  Maybe King Agrippa could help him.  So, Festus arranged this hearing where Paul could make his defense in chapter 26.

APPLICATION: There are times when I live my life according to kingdom principles that the world does not know how to deal with me.  When God does something or leads me to do something that cannot be explained with natural arguments, I may find the world working to discredit me. 

Recently on the news I heard of a family wandering about their neighbors. The neighbors were very outspoken with a different political view.  But when a snow covered their area, these very neighbors, without being asked and before anyone could reject, shoveled all the snow off their driveway!  Now, how does one accept an act of kindness from someone holding such unacceptable views?  Someone has Christians for neighbors! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I pray that your presence in my life makes a difference that people can see. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 17, 2021: SOAP #4094:  Numbers 1-2; Acts 24

SCRIPTURE:  Numbers (NIV) 2:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “The Israelites are to camp round the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.” 3 On the east, towards the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard.” …  5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. …
34 So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.

OBSERVATION:  The Israelites left Egypt as a mass of people.  Later when they entered the Promised Land, they entered as a well-organized army.    Here in chapter 2, God begins the organizing process.  He divides them into their tribes and assigns them a place to camp around the tabernacle.  He sets a traveling order while moving across the wilderness.   God is being God!  One only needs to look at creation to see that God is a God of order.  In the New Testament we see He put order in church leadership. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

APPLICATION: I need to let God work His order into my life.  He desires to organize my thoughts around His Word.  He wants to organize my values around His values.  He wants to organize my affections around what pleases Him.  He wants to organize my actions around His purpose for my life.   When I ask, “Why?”  He says, “Because I love you and I have organized myself around you!”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the Bible is the story of how you organized yourself to meet the needs of fallen man.  Lord, you took on human body to become the sacrifice we needed.  Holy Spirit, you were sent to indwell the church. It only seems natural that you desire order in my life.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 16, 2021: SOAP #4093:  Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 23:10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul has been taken into custody by the Romans.  The next night, he had a visitor.  The Lord tells him what is ahead.  He does not tell him that he would be in prison for two more years before being sent to Rome.  The Lord did not tell Paul to do anything; He told him what was going to happen.  Paul did not need to figure out how to make God’s word happen. 

Paul did not need to raise any money for His trip to Rome, nor His ministry in Rome.  That does not mean that money was not needed, but God used Rome to house Paul (in prison for two years) and for transportation by ship accompanied by a Roman centurion. 

APPLICATION:  Sometimes God gives an assignment that I can do.  Usually, it is a simple test of my obedience.  I have never been told to do something I was unable to do.  It is often obvious that what I was given to do will not accomplish what is needed, but when I obey, God comes through with an adequate answer. 

Sometimes, like Paul, God tells me something that I have no way of bringing about.  I need to wait patiently and trust God to bring it about.  I do not need to pressure others to support what God has told me.  God will impress others to help as He determines.  The temptation is to impress on others what God has told me in order to gain their support. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are more than able and willing to provide for any assignment you give me. In trusting you, I get to see your hand at work to accomplish your will.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 15, 2021: SOAP #4092:  Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

OBSERVATION:  In verse 10 we have two foundational characteristics of God, love and holiness.  (Faithfulness is an expression of His holiness.)  Together they make Him good.  If one was missing it would be hard to call Him good.  We have probably all known people who are so holy and legalistic but do not have any love.  It is hard to call them good.  And we know others who are so loving but have no moral basis for their actions.  Everyone can do as they please.  It is also hard to call those people good.  Goodness is the biproduct of joining holiness and love.  In God alone are those characteristics perfectly joined.  God is always perfectly loving; God is always perfectly holy! 

APPLICATION:  For those in whom God dwells by His Spirit, whose sins have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus—for those born again as children of God—for His children—God desires these characteristics be developed in their lives. 

Much of the work of the Holy Spirit in me is to grow these in me.  They are expressed as the fruit of the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22-23) He is making me like Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, Jesus came to earth so that we might know you, not just know about you.  But as we come to know you, we learn more about you.  We learn your ways.  We learn what pleases you.  Holy Spirit, continue to work the character of God in me.  Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 14, 2021: SOAP #4091:  Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

SCRIPTURE:  Leviticus (NIV) 23:22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’”

OBSERVATION:  In this verse we find one way God provided for the poor.  They were allowed to reap the grain growing at the edges of the field.  In this way those needing assistance were allowed the benefit of working.  It was not just a hand-out, it was a hand-up.  They had the opportunity to use their own strength, talent, and time to provide for their own family. 

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor.  The emphasis on giving alms and helping the poor is directed to those able to give and to the wealthy. They are to be generous and make sure workers are paid in a timely manner.  The passage above is directed to the landowner. 

The instructions for the poor; they are to ask God.  They are to take their requests to God.  The Bible gives no instructions to the poor on asking people for money, support, or financial help.  It seems to me that when they go to God, they are depending on God.  But when they go to man, they are depending on man.  God loves to have people depend on Him. 

APPLICATION:  People who do not know God will naturally look to others for help.  The Bible has many promises and examples of how God provides.  It must hurt God’s heart to find His people looking elsewhere for help.

What does it say about our God when we become beggars?  Churches should not need discounts or a cut-rate for a contractor’s labor.  It becomes a testimony that our God is too poor to pay the full amount.  If the contractor wants to do something for the Lord, then rejoice, but it is more acceptable to God when it is his idea. 

PRAYER: Lord, we trust you to provide.  You know what we need (Matthew 6:25-34) and have promised to provide for those who seek you first. May your provision for your children be a testimony of your ability to keep your promises. Amen. 

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!